OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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What is a gamete?

A sex cell
A muscle cell
A nerve cell
A skin cell

The correct answer is: A sex cell

A gamete is defined as a sex cell that is involved in sexual reproduction. In humans and many other organisms, there are two types of gametes: sperm and eggs (ova). These cells have half the number of chromosomes found in regular body cells, which is essential for maintaining the correct chromosome number when fertilization occurs. When a sperm fertilizes an egg, they combine their genetic material, resulting in a zygote that has the full chromosome number. This process is fundamental for genetic diversity and the continuation of a species. The other choices represent different types of somatic (body) cells that are not involved in reproduction, and therefore do not define what a gamete is.